Method and apparatus for filling containers with beverages using a packed line principle



June 2, 1970 METHOD K. F. FRIENDSHIP 3,515,180 AND APPARATUS FOR FILLINGCONTAINERS WITH BEVERAGES USING A PACKED LINE PRINCIPLE Filed July 21,1967 I fl-- l i L--- I I II *3 )J I E -j TP l\ i I f I INVENTOR.

KENNETH R FRIENDSHIP ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent US. Cl. 141-6 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe filling apparatus has a distributor head with a plurality of outletmembers connected to individual filling heads and means supply a flow ofbeverage under pres sure to the distributor head. A free gas disposalchamher is provided positioned above the distributor head and connectedto the beverage supply means, and the distributor head preferably hasthe outlet members extending downwardly at an acute angle with relationto a vertical axis of the supply means. A- return tube is positionedwithin the supply means and has an open inlet end adjacent the top ofthe free gas disposal chamber.

This invention relates to beverage filling apparatus, particularly toapparatus for filling a large number of containers rapidly andsubstantially automatically with a uniform content of a beverage, whichusually contains carbon dioxide or is of a carbonated nature.

Hitherto, on machines for filling containers with beverage, particularlywhere same contains carbon dioxide or are of a carbonated nature, a headtank or product receiver has been mounted. Each filling valve issupplied with its beverage from such a tank. Frequently, the space abovethe liquid in the tank, which is normally maintained at a constantlevel, is filled with air, or even when filled with carbon dioxide gas,the returning displaced air from the containers, which are being filledwith product, is passed into this space. It will, therefore, be seenthat this system renders it possible under suitable pressure conditionsfor air to be absorbed by the product. This is detrimental, particularlywhen handling such beverages as beer or where some fermentable matterremains, or where there is any matter which can oxidize and may have aspoiling effect upon the product.

The purpose of this invention, which should be read in conjunction witha co-pending companionship application entitled Apparatus for FillingContainers With Beverages, filed Oct. 22, 1965 under application Ser.No. 500,863, is to enable a container filling machine to be operatedwithout this head tank or receiver. Each filling valve is supplieddirectly from the feeding conduit or pipe, which will at all times befull and packed with beverage under suitable pressure. This eliminatesany possibility of the product contacting air, and thus avoiding any possibility of any absorption of air during the passage through the fillingmachine.

In practice, some ditficulties were first experienced, due to the fastopening and closing of the filling valves etc, by hydraulic shocks, andliquid hammer, which seriously affected the smooth filling of theproduct concerned. By means now about to be described, thesedifficulties have been overcome.

The general object of the present invention is to avoid any instabilityof, or fluctuations in pressure in, the processed beverage in containerfilling apparatus wherein such pressure fluctuations may be caused bypump action, liquid hammer actions from rapidly opening or closing icevalves in the apparatus, and/ or by pressure variation due to change inrate of how of the beverage, as well as for other pressure variationsthat may arise in the system.

Another object of the invention is to avoid any accumulation of gaspockets in carbonated liquids as they are being processed rapidly forcontainer filling action.

Another object of the invention is to provide beverage container fillingapparatus, particularly adapted for use with carbonated beverages,wherein the apparatus provides for continuously circulating a portion ofthe product to be fed into bottles from its source to and through thefilling machine right up to the point of distribution to the individualfilling systems and to return an appreciable controlled amount of thebeverage continuously back to its source for recirculation in thesystem.

Attention now is directed to the accompanying drawings wherein afragmentary, enlarged vertical section of a portion of a beveragedistributing apparatus embodying the principles. of the presentinvention is shown.

When referring to corresponding members shown in the drawings andreferred to in the specification, corresponding numerals are used tofacilitate comparison therebetween.

With reference to the details of the structures shown in the drawings,FIG. 1 represents a beverage dispensing and/or filling machine that canbe used with any typical or conventional carbonated beverage processingapparatus. Thus a beverage is provided to an inlet line 10 from suitablemeans prepared for container filling action. Some beverage is to bereturned for reprocessing by a return line 12. The return line or tube12 preferably has a control valve or means 13 provided therein wherebythe rate of flow of beverage through the line 12. can be varied withindesired limits. A beverage distributor and filling machine 15 isprovided with beverage from the inlet line 11. Any suitable rotaryjoints or couplings 14 connect the lines 11 and 12 to operative parts ofthe machine 15.

The beverage supply means includes a vertically positioned, upwardlyextending tube 16 which is received within the bore or hollow center ofa suitable support 17 which positions and journals the filling machine15 for container filling action. Only a portion of this distributor andfilling apparatus 15 is shown as the remainder thereof is shown anddescribed in detail in my previously identified co-pending patentapplication. In general, the filling apparatus includes a plurality ofindividual filling heads H that normally are secured to radiallyextending arms or circumferentially spaced parts of a support means 21carried by the upper end of the support 17. Any desired means (notshown) engage the support 17 and position it for controlled rotarymovement. Thus, the individual filling section or heads of the fillingapparatus are adapted to be associated with individual containers forfilling them with beverage during a controlled arcuate movement of theupper portion of the filling apparatus or machine 15. This also includesa distributor head or means indicated as a whole by the numeral 22 andwhich is made from an upper plate 18 and a lower plate 19. The plate 19has a plurality of individual outlet means, members, or bores 23 ofwhich only one is shown, but which are provided at circumferentiallyspaced portions of the distributor head for connection to the individualfilling heads provided in the filling apparatus of the invention, as bytubes or lines 24. The distributor plates 18 and 19 are so designed andconstructed that the upper plate 18 has a downwardly inclined innersurface 35 which is at an acute angle to the horizontal and it has anupwardly extending neck or tube 26. The

, lower plate 19 is in suitable sealed engagement adjacent flow ofbeverage between these plates, as described hereinafter in more detail.

The drawing shows that the supply means section or tube 16 extendsupwardly of the machine to discharge the beverage supplied underpressure by the line to a relatively small free gas disposal chamber 25that is positioned adjacent but slightly above the distributor head 22.It should also be noted that the individual outlet members or bores 23preferably extend at a slight acute angle downwardly with relation to ahorizontal plane normal to the tube 16. Hence, beverage pumped into thedistributor tube 16 flows up into the chamber 25 with some of suchbeverage continuously flowing down into and through the neck 26 andthrough the distributor and out the outlet members 23 for fillingindividual containers associated with the individual filling heads inthe apparatus. By having these outlet members inclined slightlydownwardly and by being below the chamber 25 as beverage flows into thedistributor from the tube 16, any gas bubbles present in the beveragebeing pumped through the tube 16 will tend to rise up in the free gasreceiving chamber 25 rather than being carried along with the beverageinto the individual outlet members provided.

In all events as a further feature of the invention, a portion of thebeverage supplied to the chamber 25 is continuously withdrawn therefromfor recirculation in the cooling or other processing apparatus withwhich the machine is used. This recirculation, from the top of thebeverage flow path, of a controlled amount of the beverage beingprocessed, such as up to about 10 percent of the beverage, is animportant feature of the present invention and it is obtained by use ofa return or exhaust tube 28 that is received within the bore of the tube16 and normally is on the central axis thereof. Such return tube 28preferably extends to a point adjacent the top of the chamber 25 and hasan inlet end provided thereat. Hence, a controlled but appreciableportion of the beverage flowing upwardly through the tube 16 andnormally the lighter component thereof including any undissolved gasbubbles in the beverage will tend to flow up into this free gas disposalchamber 25 and be exhausted or returned therefrom through the returntube 28. This tube 28, in turn, connects to the return line 12 and suchbeverage can be returned for chilling in the carbonator portion of theapparatus associated with the filling apparatus 15 of the invention. Atthe same time, any free air or gas carried by the returning beverage canbe removed by suitable apparatus.

The distributor head 22 is made from the plates 18 and 19 that aresuitably secured together in the assembled apparatus. The lower plate 19has a distributing recess or groove 29 formed therein at the radiallyinner ends of the outlets or bores 23. Such recess or groove 29 connectsto the distributor neck 26 through the flow restrictor, or regulatorformed between the parallel surfaces 35 and 27. Any vertical sectionthrough the restrictor means area in the distributor head or means 22equals, or substantially equals, the total cross-sectional area of theoutlets 23 for a smooth flow of beverage through the distributor to theindividual filling heads in the machine.

By the vertical upward input of the beverage being processed into thefree gas disposal chamber 25 near the lower portion thereof, anyentrapped air or gas bubbles flow upwardly in this small chamber. Asanother factor in the improved flow pattern of beverage being processed,the beverage received in the chamber 25 then flows downwardly therefromthrough the relatively large diameter neck 26 formed in association withthe distributor head or means 22. Also, this downward fiow pathcontinues as the beverage moves into and through the regulator or fiowrestrictor means formed between the surfaces 35 and 27 to thedistributor channel or groove 29. The beverage then continues to flow ina downward direction through the individual outlets 23 and theconventional fittings and other members attached thereto to 4 distributethe beverage to the individual filling heads H. By this distribution ofthe beverage by a downwardly directed flow pattern, the free gasreceiving chamber 25 collects any gas bubbles or free air therein andsuch gases will be withdrawn from the chamber 25 through the outlet tube28 with beverage flow therethrough.

As indicated before, it is possible to control the temperature of therecirculated beverage so that all beverage is at a desired temperaturefor container filling action before being supplied to the fillingapparatus for container filling action. Such action, of course, isobtained by rechilling, or cooling, the beverage in any suitable heatexchanger that may be associated with the machine 15.

The distributor outlets 23 are inclined downwardly at, for example,about a 10 angle and conventional fittings connect the tubes thereto.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the objects of the presentinvention have been achieved and that novel and worthwhile improvementshave been provided in beverage container filling apparatus and methods.

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for filling containers withcarbonated beverages and including a distributor chamber with a luralityof outlet means individually connected thereto for individual fillingheads,

a free gas disposal chamber positioned above and in flow communicationwith the distributor chamber,

means supplying a flow of beverage under pressure to said gas disposalchamber, the supply means being on a vertical axis and having an upwardflow of beverage therein to such free gas disposal chamber,

means connecting said free gas disposal chamber to said distributorchamber for vertical downward flow of beverage thereto and for theupward passage of any free gas,

means communicating with the upper portion of said gas disposal chamberto bleed off any excess free gas therein, and

downwardly converging conical flow restriction means in said distributorchamber to communicate said free gas disposal chamber with said outletmeans.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 where said flow restriction means are in saiddistributor means in the flow path of beverage therethrough and are ofsubstantially the same cross-sectional area as the total area of saidoutlet means.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 where said individual outlet means extendoutwardly and downwardly at an acute angle to a horizontal plane andconnect in straight line relation to said flow restriction means.

4. In an apparatus for filling containers with carbonated beverages andincluding a distributor means with a plurality of outlet means adaptedto be individually connected to individual filling heads, theimprovement comprising first supply means on a vertical axis and havingan up ward flow of beverage therein connected to a first chamber,

said first chamber being positioned above the distributor head toreceive said flow of beverage,

second means for supplying a flow of beverage vertically downwardlyunder pressure from said first chamber to said distributor means andallowing for the upward flow of free gas from said distributor means tosaid first chamber,

means communicating with the upper portion of said first chamber tobleed olf any excess free gas therein, and

said distributor means forming a second chamber therein having an uppersurface extending downwardly and outwardly to provide gas bubble flowback up to said first chamber.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said free gas bleed 5 off meanscomprising a return tube is positioned within said first supply meansand has an inlet end positioned adjacent the top of said first chamber,

a portion of the beverage flowing through said first supply means iscontinuously withdrawn by said return tube, and

a control means is present in said return tube to regulate flow of thebeverage therethrough.

6. In an apparatus for filling containers with beverages and including adistributor means with a plurality of circumferentially spaced outletmeans adapted to be individually connected to individual filling heads,and beverage supply means on a vertical axis and having an upward flowof beverage therein, the improvement comprising a first chamberpositioned above the distributor means and connected to the supplymeans,

said distributor means comprisin upper and lower members securedtogether at peripheral portions thereof and having inner walls opposedand defining a second chamber, said upper member having an upwardlyextending neck connecting to the bottom of said first chamber fordownward flow of the beverage from said first chamber to saiddistributor means and for upward flow of any free gas contained in saidbeverage from said distributor means to said first chamber,

means communicating with the upper portion of said first chamber tobleed off any excess free gas therein,

said upper member having an inner wall surface downwardly inclined at anacute angle, and

said outlet means extending in a radical direction in relation to saidneck and being formed in said lower member.

7. Apparatus as in claim 6 where said distributor means including anenlarged annular distribution section positioned adjacent the radiallyinner ends of said outlet means.

8. A beverage container filling method for carbonated beverage which hasbeen processed and is supplied under controlled temperature and pressureconditions, the improvement comprising the steps of flowing all of thebeverage vertically upwardly in a flow path to a storage area,

collecting a volume of the beverage at the upper portion in its flowpath at the storage area while leaving a free gas disposal zone abovesaid collected volume of beverage,

withdrawing a portion of the beverage from the volume thereof at thestorage area for downward flow of all of such withdrawn beverage to asecond area for distribution to individual container filling meanswhereby any free gas will travel upwardly to said gas disposal zone, and

continuously withdrawing a second quantity of fluid comprising beverageand free gas from adjacent the top of said volume of beverage at saidfirst storage" area for further processing.

9. A method as in claim 8 including flowing the first beverage portionwithdrawn vertically downwardly in relation to said volume of saidbeverage at said first storage area, and providing a downwardly inclinedbeverage discharge flow path in relation to a horizontal plane in saidsecond area.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 640,336 1/1900 Tokheim 222-318 X1,628,853 5/1927 Lomax 2223l8 x 2,097,107 10/1937 Stewart et al. 14144X2,364,400 12/1944 Stewart et a1. 141--286 X FOREIGN PATENTS 339,0707/1921 Germany.

825,953 12/1951 Germany.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Priamry Examiner E. J. EARLS, Assistant Examiner US.Cl. X.R.

